Tape serving machine



Maw}! T. H. KRUEGER TAPE SERVING MACHINE Filed Nov. 8, 1935' 5Sheets-Sheet 1 Nwt INVENTOR. v Theodore H. Krueqe/t ATTORNEYS. v

March 15, 1938. 1 IHKRUEGER -2,110,912'

TAPE SERVING MACHINE Filed Nov. 8, 1935 3 Sheets-Sheet 2' ATTORNEYS.

March 15, 1938. 1'. H. KRUEGER TAPE SERVING MACHINE Filed Nov. 8, 1935 3Sheets-Sheet 5 I N V E NTOR Theodore H lrrueqen BY M ATTORNEYS PatentedMar. 5, 1938 UNITED, STATES PATENT" OFFICE-- 15 Claims.

- This invention relates to dispe ing machines for gummed tape, and moreparti' ularly to machines of the type in which the leading end ofthetape is seized by the operator and pulled for- Ward to draw the tapeacross a moistening device.

It is a primary object of the present invention to provide means in amachine of this type H which will avoid the necessity: of the operator'sl0. putting his thumb or fingers upon moist, gummed \portions of thetape, which 'will nevertheless "moisten the tape in such a *manner thatthe whole severed strip adheres to the package on which it isplaced\after severance, and which 5 will facilitate the seizing of'theleading end of the tape by the operator.

To this end'it is a feature of the invention that provision is made of atape moistener, a tape severing means normally adjacent to the mois- 20tener in position to separate the wet tape from the dry tape butmoveabie in anti-tape feeding direction by the same fingers of theoperator with which he grasps the-leading end of the dry tape, and ofmeans for causing the exposed dry end of the tape to be deflected intosuch position relative to the operators fingers that he can grasp thetape by thereafter moving only his thumb, and in such a position thatwhenpthe operator allows the knife to return to its normal 30 severingposition without causing any relative movement between knife, fingers,thumb and tape, the thumb will pass over the moistening element withouttouching it, and the fingers will be pressing a portion of the tapefirmly against the moistening brush.

Thus a tape zone containing an excess of moisture is provided betweenthe dry end and the normally moistened length of the tape. The zone ofexcess moisture supplies moisture enabling thedry end to be moistenedand struck down as an incident of applying and pressing the tape againsta package.

Other objects and advantages will hereinafter appear.

In the drawi gs forming part or this specification,

Fig. 1 is a longitudinal view in sectional elevation through adispensing machine embodying features of the invention, the view showingthe 50 general organization of the parts;

2- 2 of Fig. '1. looking in the directiontof the arrows; W l

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary sectional detail view 5 showing the tapedeflector and moistener with Fig. 2 is a sectional view taken upon theline the parts of the tape deflector in a difierent position from thatof Fig. 1-;

Fig. 4 is a view similar to Fig. 3 showing the thumb moved over intotape gripping position;

Fig. dis a view similar to Figs. 3 and 4, but showing the tape pressedby the fingers against the moistening brush;

Fig. 6 is a perspective view of a package sealed by a piece of tapedrawn from the apparatus;

Fig. 7 is aview similar to Figs. 3 to 5 but showing the tape beingpulled forward over the moistener;

Fig. 8 is a fragmentary view in sectional elevation illustrating amodified embodiment 01' the invention; and

Fig. 9 is a fragmentary view in sectional elevation illustratinga/further modified embodiment.

' The dispensing machine comprises a frame i which forms at the rear endthereof a receptacle for receiving a roll 2 of gummed tape. Thereceptacle is provided with a hinged cover 3 so that access may be hadto the interior of the receptacle as required. The cover is adapted tobe swung baclr to the dot and dash line position indicated at 3a inFig. 1. An arm ti sup ported upon a pivot pin ti carries at its forwardend a bar t having a presser strip i of felt or other suitable frictionmaterial mounted thereon. The felt presser strip 7! bears against a lipt by gravity and presses the tape 9 against the lip,

- thereby applying a light frictional resistance to the drawing forwardof the tape, so that the tape is held taut when pulled forward, and isrestrained against retrograde movement at other times.

An inverted bristle brush i ii is set in a reservoir or tank ii at theforward end of the frame i, the butt of the brush being submerged inwater. The brush is supported between the rear wall it ,of the reservoiri i and aremovable cover plate itof the reservoir; The tape is intendedto be drawn from the roll 2 between the lip 8 and the presser foot i,and across the tip of the brush iii.

Between the lip 8 and the brush i U provision is made of -a tapesevering and tape deflecting device it. The device it comprises arms i5pivotaliy mounted upon a cross pin it. Upon the upper ends of the armsl5 there is fixedly mounted a tear-01f blade andtape tensioning device Hand an opposed guide plate it! which jointly form a. guide throatthroughwhich the tape 9 passes toward the brush in a plane substantiallybelow the tops of the bristles and ap- I proximately at right angles tothe direction of spring 20 which is secured at one end to the machineframe and at the opposite end toa pin 2| mounted on the 'tail portion ofthe arm l5. A plate 22 carried by rocker arms 23 is pivotally-supportedupon the arm libeneath plate I! upon a cross pin or shaft 24. The plate22 carries a weight 25 which normally urges the plate to its lowerposition as indicated in Fig. 1. The plate 22 ,is provided at itsforward end with an upturned deflecting lip 26 which is located farenough forward to stand a little clear of the forward ends of the'platesl'l and l8 when the plate 22 is swung counter-clockwise relativeto them.

At the conclusion of any operation the parts remain in the positionshownin Fig. 1 with the forward. end of the tape substantially flush with theforward edges of the plate l1.

' and dash lines in Fig. 4. V

draws the tape into. engagement with the brush bristles-as shown i'nFig. 5, the arm and the when the operator desires to draw a strip oftape from the machine he places his hand in substantially the positionillustrated in Fig. 1 so that one or more of his fingers bear againstthe plate I! in a position to thrust it rearward. The operator thruststhe plate rearward as illustrated at successive stages by Figs. 3 and 4.This carries the arm l5 counter-clockwise and the arm carries with itthe deflector lip, 26 and the supporting arms 23 thereof. During thismovement the tape 9 is restrained against retrograde movement by the lip8 and the opposed presser strip 1 so that the tear-off blade l1 and theplate I8 move rearward relative to the. tape, causing a leading end ofthe tape to be exposed inadvance' of said blade-and plate. The plate l8serves as a guide to hold the tape above and clear of the lip 26, sothat thelip does not engage nor ob-' struct the leading end of the tape;

The rearward swinging of the arm 25 carries the tail portions of thesupporting arms 23 .against an abutment lip 21 formed on the frame.

Continued rearward movement of the plate I! and the arms l5 causes theplate 22 to swing, counter-clockwise'relative to the arms l5. As shownin'Fig. 4, this-movement causes the lip 1 or flange 25 to swing upacross the forward'ends of the plates l1 and. |8"and to momentarilycurveor deflect the leading end2l of the tape 1 ,upward to a position likethat shown in Fig. 4.

The operator now moves his thumb to grip the tape against his foreflngeras illustrated in dot The operator then parts carried thereby beingmeanwhilereturned to their normal positions. The. operator now draws thedesired length of tape across the brush and tears it off against thetear-off blade H.

The torn of! length of tape 28 is then applied to a package ,29 to seal.the V ageI- It will be observed that "a portioniiil of' the deflectedtape'end never comes 'in contact with the brush and istherefore dry,evenafter the tape has been torn ofl.- There is a zone 3| of the tape,however. adjacent this dry end (the is made enough stronger I cause theparts to remain normally in the posiwrapper of the-packportion shown incontact with the brush, Fig. 5) which is moistened excessively by reasonof the fact that the arrangement of parts causes the fingers of theoperator to press this portion 3| directly against the brush. The latermoistened portions of the strip are brought into a lighter contact withthe brush due to tautness produced by the pull of the operator's handfrom in front, and to the tensioning or dragging effect of passing. thetape at a sharp (approximately angle around the cutter edge |'l.- Whenthe tape has been laid on the package, therefore, in the manner showninFlg. 6, the operator in smoothing it down may draw his hand from leftto right across the successive zones 3| and 30. This causes the excessmoisture on the zone 3| to be spread underneath the zone'30 so that thezone.

10 is thus moistened and sticks to the package even though it was drywhen it left the dispensing device.

In Fig. 8 the tape is drawn from a source of supply (not shown) over asupport to and beneath a gravity operated presser la to a moisteningbrush Illa. So far as-the operator is concerned the mode of operation isthe same as that of the embodiment disclosed in Figs. 1 to 5 and 7.Thetape severing and tape deflecting means is different, however, inconstruction.

A tear-off blade 30 having an up-turned, finger engaging, operatingabutment 3| is carried at the upper ends of arms 32 which are pivotallymounted upon a pin 33. A spring 34 urges (the blade 3|! toward itsnormal position adjacent the moistener. A tape deflecting orbendingplate 35 is pivotally mounted upon a pin 36.v The pin 36 is supported onears 31. A spring 38 urges the bending plate 35 counter-clockwise. Anend portion of the tear-off blade, however, engages a flange ofthe-bending plate 35 and the spring 34 than the spring- 38 to tion shownin full line in Fig. 8; The flange on the plate 35 is located outsidethe lateral bounds of the tape I the. blade 30a, so that the tape iscaused to pass freely between the blade and the plate.

when the operator places his flngers agains the finger piece 3| ofthe'blade 30 and pushes it rearward the blade is swung to the dot anddash line position indicated at 390 in Fig. 8. The bending plate 35follows the tear-oi! blade to the dot. and dash line position 35a ofFig. 8, bending the leadingend of the tape upward to. a position adpathand spaces the plate 35 from jacent the fingers which were used forpushing the blade rearward, so that the operator can grip the tapemerely by moving his thumb toward these fingers. By placing the thumbagainst the upper end of the deflected tape so that the tip 'of thethumb stands above the finger tips, the

thumb may be properly located so as to escapeengagement with the brushalthough the flnger tips are caused to press the tape firmly against thebrush. The operator is influenced by the mechanism to move his thumb andfingers in from-a source of supply around a-rol1er 40 andthence betweenrollers 4| and 42 which are mounted in the machine frame. A tear-oifblade 43 having an operating finger piece 44 is mounted at the upperends of swinging arms 45. A spring 1 46 connected to one of the arms 45and to the machinezframe normally holdsthe blade 43 fortear-ofi blade 43isthrust rearward the tape isrestrained from moving rearward with it bythe roller 4| and hence the leading end'of the tape is exposed by suchrearward movement of the blade. When the blade has moved to the rear ofthe roller 4? as shown in dot and dash lines in Fig. '9 the tape springsupward to the vertical position illustrated in Fig. 9, closely adjacentthe fingers which the operator is using for moving the blade.Theoperator then moveshis thumb toward these fingers in the manneralready described to grip the tape, and draws the tape forward, thethumb passing clear of the brush but the fingers pressing the tapefirmly against the brush.

While I have illustrated and described in detail certain preferredformsof my invention, it is to be understood that changes may be madetherein and the invention embodied in other structures. 1' do not,therefore, desire to limit myself to the specific constructionsillustrated, but intend to cover my invention broadly in whatever formits principle may be utilized.

I claim:

1. In a tape serving machine, in combination, means for supporting aroll of tape, a moistener past which the tape may bedrawn by theoperator, a tear-ofi blade disposed between the roll support and themoistener, at a short distance below the top of the moistener, meanssupporting the tear-01f blade for movement away from the -moistener bythe operator in an anti-tape-feed direction to expose the leading end ofthe dry tape, means automatically effective in response to such manualmovement of the blade to bend the exposed leading end of the tape upwardinto position to be conveniently grasped by the blade moving hand of theoperator, and means yieldingly urging the blade toward the moistener.

2. In a tape serving machine, in combination, means for supporting aroll of tape, amoistener past which the tape may be drawn by theoperator, a tear-01f blade disposed between the roll support and themoistener and normally located adjacent the .moistener to enable themoistened portion of the tape to be separated from the dry portionthereof, means supporting said tear-ofi blade for movement by theoperator to expose the leading end of the dry tape, means for bendingsuch exposed end of the tape into position to be conveniently grasped bythe operator, and means yieldingly urging the blade toward themoistener.

3. In a tape serving machine, in combination, means for supportinga rollof tape; a moistener past which the tape may be drawn by the operator,tape severing means disposed adjacent the moistener for severing themoistened tape from the dry tape so that only dry tape will remain inthe'machine after a severing operation, meansyieldingly urging the tapesevering means toward the moistener, the tape severing means beingmovable by the operator toexpose theleading end of the dry tape after asevering operation,

and means for automatically bending the leading end of the dry tape intoposition to be convenabutment associated with the bending, lip andiently grasped by 4. In a tape serving machine, in combination, meansfor supporting a roll of tape, a moistener past which the tape may bedrawn by the operator, a tear-oil blade disposed between the rollsupport andthe moistener and normally located adedge of the tear-offblade to bend the exposed end of the tape around the tear-oil bladeinto] position to be ator.

5. In a tape serving machine, in combination, means for suppo ting aroll of tape, a moistener past which the tape may be drawn by theoperator, a tear-oil blade disposed between the roll support and themoistener and normally located adjacent the moistener to sever themoistened tape from the dry tape so that only dry tape will remain inthe machine after the severing operation, means supporting the tear-oi?blade for movement by the operator in an anti-tape-feed direction toexpose the leading end-of the dry tape, a bending lip carried by theblade support adjacent the forward edge of the blade and at the oppositeside of the tape path from the blade, and

conveniently grasped by the opermeans for moving said bending lipacrossthe edge.

- tions with the blade adjacent the moistener and the lip clear of theblade. 7

6. In a tape serving machine, in combination, means for supporting aroll of tape, a moistening bristle brush past which the tape may bedrawn by the operator, a tear-ofl blade disposed between the rollsupport and the moistener and normally located adjacent the brush in aplane intersecting the brush at a substantial distance below the bristletips and formed to define a path of tape movement-toward the brush,means for moving the blade in anti-tape-feed direction to expose theleading end of the dry tape, and means operated by such movement of theblade to bend the exposed dry end of the tape around located adjacentthe moistener to sever the moistened tape from the dry tape so that onlydry tape, will remain in the machine after the severing operation, meansrestraining the tape against retrograde movement, means supporting thetearoil blade for movement by the operator in anti-, tape-feed directionto expose the leading end of the dry tape, abending lip carried by theplate and supported at the opposite side of the a tape path from thetear-ofi blade, an operating movable with the blade support, and meansfor intercepting said abutment as it moves rearward to cause it to movethe bending lip across the.

ge of the tear-oi! blade to bend the exposed and of the tape around theedge of the tear ofl blade into .position to be conveniently grasped bythe operator. e

8. 'In a tape serving machine, in combination, means for supportingaroll of tape, .a moistener past which the tape maybe drawn by theoperator, atear-ofi blade disposed between the roll support and themoistener and normally located adjacent the moistener to sever themoistened tape from the dry tape so that only dry tape will remain-inthe machine after the severing operation, means supporting the tear-oilblade for movement bythe operator in anti-tape-ieed operator, atear-ofif blade disposed between the roll support and the moistener andnormally located adjacent the moistener to sever the mois-' tened tapefrom the dry tape,so that only dry nected to the support for urging theblade in.

tape will remain in the machine after the severing operatioma rockingsupport upon which the tear-oil blade is fixedly mounted, a springcontape ieedingdirection, means for thrusting the blade support inanti-tape-feed direction, a-bendinglip, a support tor'the bending lippivoted onthe bladesupport, and means for engaging -'the lip support asit moves. rearward withathe blade support to cause it to project thebending lip across the edge of thetear-ofi blade to bend the exposedfendof the tape'across the edge or the blade.

10. In a tape servingmachine, in combination,

means for. supporting a roll of tape, a'moistener past which the tapemay be drawn by the operator, a tear-oi! blade disposed betweenthe rollsupport and the moistener, means supporting the tear-oi! blade formovement by the operator in an anti-tape-feed direction-to expose theleading end of the dry tape, means yieldingly urging the blade towardthe moistener, and means automatically efifective in, response to suchmanual movement of the blade to'bend the exposed leading end oi the tapeupward into position where the operator can grasp itby mov ing only-histhumb and so that when the blade is allowed to return to its position ofrest without any relative motionbetween fingers, thumb,

- tape and blade, the thumb and the forward end oi the tape will remaindry and the finger tips rection of the tear-oi! pull to expose theleading will press the tapedirectly beneath them against the moistener.J 11. In a tape serving machine, ineomb lnation, means for supporting aroll of tape, a moistener past which the tape mayfibe drawn by tlioperator a tear-oi! blade disposed between theroll support andthemoistenef, means supporting and guiding the tear-oil blade for bodilymovement by the'operator in an anti tape-i eed di-.-

rection substantially at right angles 'to the diend of the dry tapeandautomatically 'eifective in responsev to such movement of the blade tobend'the exposed leading end of the tape upward into a positionsubstantially at right angles to the tape remaining at that moment underthe tear-oil. blade.

12. In a tape serving machine, in combination, means for supporting arolloi tape, a moistener tor, 'a tear-oil blade disposed between theroll support and the moistener, means supporting and guiding thetear-oil blade for movement by the operator in an anti-tape-teeddirection substantially at right angles to the direction of thetearoflpull to exposetheleadingendoithedrytape,

' and means automatically efiective in response to such movement of theblade to bend the exposed leading end-of tape upward into a positionsubstantially at right angles to the tape remaining at that moment underthe cutter blade to extend from below the top of the moistener to abovethe top of the'moistener, the arrangement of the elements being suchthat ii the fingers and the thumb of the operator preserve thissubstantially -pa'stwhiclithetapemaybedrawnbytheoperavertical bend ofthe forward end of the tape as the cutter blade moves with them back toits post;-

tion of rest, the extreme forward end of the tape,

and the operator's thumb will remain d y while I that portionof the tapeadjacent to squeezed into v by the pressure of the fingers.

itwillbe 13. In a tape serving machine, in combination, means forsupporting a roll or tape, amoistener past which the tapemay be drawn bythe operator;a tear ofl blade disposed between the roll support and themoistener below the flap of the moistener and normally located closelyadjacent the moistener; meanyurging the blade toward its normalposition, means engageable by the fingers the body of the resilientmoistener' of the operator for moving the tear-off blade in"anti-tape-feed direction to expose-the leading end oi! the tape, andmeans for causing the exposed leading end of the tape to be turnedupward from the position which it occupied beneath the-blade into aposition adjacent the fingers used i'or moving the blade so thati't canbe gripped by the operator upon movement of the'thumb towards said 14.In'a tape serving machine, in combination, 4 means for supporting aroll. of tape, a moistener past which the tape may be drawn by theoperator,

a tear-oi! blade disposed-between the rollsup- "P rt and the moistenerand normally located closely adjacent the moistener at a short distancebelow the-top thereof; means engageable bythe fingers of the operatorfor moving thetear-of blade in antl-tape-Ieed direction substantially atright angles to the direction of the tear-ofi pull to expose the leadingand of the tape, and means tor causing the exposed leading end of thetape to be turned upwardriron the position which it occupied benath theblade into a positionadjaoent the finger used for moving the blade toex-' tend from below the top of the moistener to above the top of themoistener so that it can be gripped by the operator upon movement of thethumb towards said finger at a'point sufilciently above the finger tipto enable the operator when drawing the gripped-tape forward in tapeteed direction to move his thumb in a path clear or the moistener whilecausing the .finger, to press the tapeiirmly against the moistener;

15. In a tape serving machine, in combination,

.means for supporting a roll of tape, an upstanding moistener wickacross which the tape may be drawn by the operator, atear-ofl! bladenormally disposed between the roll support and the moistener at a shortdistance below the top of the moistener, means supporting the tear-oi!blade for movement toward and from the moistener substantially along thetape feeding path, means for urging the tear-off blade toward themoistenerin -tape teeding' direction, and means formanually thrustingthe blade away from the moistener' in anti-tape-feeding direction,comprising an abutment extending upward from the tear-oil. blade at adistance back from the tear-oil edge of the blade substantially equal tothe thickness of the human finger. I

THEODORE H. mUEGER.

